Broward Business Leaders Want Commissioners Out Of Purchasing

In the fight for ethics reform in county government, Broward?s business elite are opposing efforts to allow county commissioners to continue to choose which firms win government contracts.

George Morgan, the real estate magnate who is the point person on ethics reform for the Broward Workshop, said the group favors a complete ban on commission involvement. A proposal being considered by a county ethics reform task force to allow limited involvement in purchasing doesn?t go far enough, he said.

?It is a good business practice not to have commissioners serve on selection committees or purchasing committees,? Morgan said Thursday. ?If for no other reason, it gives the possibility of tampering with that process. There may be a perception by the public that tampering may occur. Why give the public any reason to feel the process is tainted??

The contracting process has become a focal point of criticism following revelations this fall of a sweeping federal corruption investigation. Josephus Eggelletion resigned from the commission earlier this month and pled guilty to money-laundering, and a School Board member and former Miramar city commissioner also face charges.

Commissioners often pack selection committees. Big-ticket deals like who should build a new courthouse or a new airport runway become heavily lobbied, and the contractors and lobbyists are key sources of campaign cash for commissioners.

Morgan said purchasing should be left to professional staff so decisions are not politicized and the best qualified firm wins. He said the role of commissioners is to ensure the staff handled the selection properly, something they can?t do if they are involved in the decision.